This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Reutter, L. I. Articles by Makwarimba, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Reutter, L. I. Articles by Makwarimba, E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

"Who Do They Think We Are, Anyway?": Perceptions of and Responses to Poverty Stigma

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Miriam J. Stewart

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

Gerry Veenstra

University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Rhonda Love

University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dennis Raphael

York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Edward Makwarimba

University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada

In this article, we report on qualitative findings pertaining to low-income people's perceptions of and responses to "poverty stigma," a key component of social exclusion with important implications for health and well-being. Our findings are drawn from a multimethod study designed to investigate experiences of social exclusion and social isolation among people living on low incomes. We conducted semistructured individual interviews (n = 59) and group interviews (total n = 34) with low-income residents of two large Canadian cities. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis techniques. Participants overwhelmingly thought that other members of society tend to view them as a burden to society—as lazy, disregarding of opportunities, irresponsible, and opting for an easy life. Low-income people responded to perceived stigma with a variety of cognitive and behavioral strategies that reflected their efforts to reconcile their perceived "social" and "personal" identities. These strategies included confronting discrimination directly, disregarding responses from others, helping other low-income people, withdrawing and isolating themselves from others, engaging in processes of cognitive distancing, and concealing their financial situation.

Key Words: descriptive methods • health • determinants of • poverty • psychosocial issues • poverty stigma • qualitative methods • general • social inequality • vulnerable populations

Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 19, No. 3, 297-311 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732308330246


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?